BEGIN AGAIN
US, 2014, 105 minutes, Colour.
Mark Ruffalo, Keira Knightley, Adam Levine, Catherine Keener, Hailee Stansfield, James Corden, Yusin Bey (Mos Def).
Directed by John Carney.
Begin Again is written and directed by John Carney who had a great success with the Irish musical film, Once, which was then transformed into an award-winning Broadway musical.
Carney obviously likes songs, and is interested in those who write them, produce them, distribute them. So, this is a story about singers, musicians, producers and the recording of an album – which means that there are songs inserted every so often during the film, making it a musical but not musical comedy in the traditional sense.
The two stars, Mark Ruffalo and Keira Knightley, work very well together.
We encounter both of them in a bar, he, Dan, drinking, she, Greta, sitting quietly, while her friend Steve (an enthusiastic James Corden) urges her on stage to sing her latest song. Nobody seems to be listening except for Dan who makes her an offer about her lyrics and the possibility of promotion.
Then we go into flashback, Mark’s story, his 18 year marriage to Miriam (Catherine Keener), is trying to be a father to his teenage daughter Violet (Hailee Stansfield), the story of his founding a record company but his seven dry years without inspiration, listening to a string of demo tapes and flinging them out his car window in dismay, offering his opinion to the board meeting only to find that they are dissatisfied with him and oust him. Greta, meanwhile, has been five years in a relationship with a popular singer, Dave (Adam Levine, frontman of the group Maroon 5) who has an affair with his temporary manager, which dismay Greta who is about to return home to London when she is dragged on stage by her friend Steve, to sing her song.
That all sounds rather dismal. But the film is not dismal, audiences finding it rather cheerful, especially when Greta agrees to a recording of her songs for an album, Mark producing, and avoiding all the complications of studios by recording in a range of settings around New York City, in central Park, on a roof below the Empire State, under a tunnel, in a subway… Dan also recruits a range of musicians who have little employment but find it exhilarating to be part of this project. Steve enters wholeheartedly into the project.
There are still some personal complications, Dave not understanding how he could have entered into the affair, but his winning an award, and inviting Greta to come back – she sings a song with hostile lyrics on his phone, which challenges him. Greta also helps Violet, especially with her clothes and shopping, but invites her to play the guitar in one of the recording sessions. And then invites Miriam to be there for the recording.
The film has a nice ending, nothing absolutely conclusive on the personal side but an achievement with the record – and, something which those who download music will appreciate, the distribution of the record online at a lower cost!
Perhaps this film will work if you are in the right mood, but also have a love for popular music.
1. A film for music lovers? The music, the songs, composing them, arranging them, performed, writing the lyrics, recording?
2. New York City, American and English characters? Music in the city, the clubs, the recording company and its officers, theatre, recording sites?
3. The musical score, the songs, this style, the lyrics, arrangements, instruments? There being inserted into the plot line of the film?
4. Dan’s story, his life, 18 years marriage to Miriam, relationship with his daughter, Violet? His founding the company, his enterprise? The lean seven years? Waking up, tired, listending to the demos and tossing them out his car window? His partners, his carefree attitude, discovering their lack of patience with him? His wife’s affair, the divorce and its effect? His wanting to be a good father? Lost in his life, fired, his reaction? Going to the club, drinking, hearing Greta and her song, his response, the talk, she thinking he was coming on to her, whether the issue of being beautiful had anything to do with singing? Giving her his card? The phone call, the meeting, wanting to do something with Greta? His going home, Miriam and her reactions? The bond between them, yet broken? Violet, at school, her father, the meetings, address and his criticism? His idea for the songs, the variety of locations, legal or not? His going to the musician, wealthy, praising Dan for all his help, getting his assistant to write down his rap lines? His wealth, giving Dan the money? Recruiting players, the brother and sister, the teacher with the ballet school, the African- American players, the combination? The participation, rehearsals, getting excited?
5. Greta, her story, British, five years with Dave, the relationship, his songs, her composing, the lyrics? Sharing? His going to Los Angeles, Mim and her being the assistant, the affair with her? Greta’s reaction, leaving? Her friendship with Steve, Steve wanting her to sing in the club, her singing, no one listening, Dan’s response, the talk about performing, her reaction? The meeting with Violet, friendship, the clothes and getting the message across, taking Violet shopping? Meeting Miriam? Dave, his singing, winning an award? Her angry song on his phone? His response? Their talking, his inviting her to the concert? Her going, the way that he sang her song? On the bike, going with Dan to the meeting of the executives, the discussions about royalties? The wanting the song online, at one dollar, sharing the proceeds with the musicians? Dan helping to achieve this?
6. Miriam, her life, the reason for the affair, hurting Dan, his visits to the house, her going to the recording, together at the end?
7. Violet, her age, offhand, clothes, wanting to attract the boy, not listening to her father’s advice, Greta and her advice, shopping? Inviting her to the play the guitar during the recording? Her doing this, sharing work with her father, the achievement?
8. The character of Steve, playing in the club, busking on the street? His becoming involved with the recordings, his enthusiasm, controlling the production?
9. Dave, five years with Greta, the affair, his success, the award, growing his beard, listening to Greta’s song on his phone, contacting her, wanting to get together again, the concert, her comment about how he played a song?
10. The range of musicians, their characters, their enthusiasm in the project?
11. The executives, business, ousting Dan? Welcoming the song, wanting to re-mix? The reaction to the song, the album going online and being sold for a dollar?
12. The director and his love for music and songs, writing, gifts, songs, opportunities?
